‘The killer doesn’t want to be caught,’ Dani said, following a train of thought from her conversations with Steven Grant.

‘What? Of course he doesn’t.’

‘No, Jason, there’s no of course. Some killers do want to get caught. They want the attention, or they’ve had enough, or they’re looking for atonement.’

‘Is this what that professor has been feeding you?’

‘Yes. It is. Some killers send notes like the one I received as a way of reaching out, a cry for help. But not this one.’

‘Which leads us where?’

‘You were right. There’s nothing in those missing person cases. Nothing at all. It would be a waste of time to pursue them further.’

‘Then what?’

‘Perhaps to catch this killer we have to keep playing his game.’

‘His game? What does that even mean? From what I gather you’re suggesting to me that this killer planted evidence to try and frame you—’

‘Maybe to frame me, or maybe just to cause me grief.’

‘Then what’s the next step in that game? We have you arrested and locked up?’

He said it as though he thought it was a ridiculous idea, but then his expression changed to one of concern.

‘Dani, seriously?’ he said.

It was him who’d suggested it, but was it really so outlandish? Was her arrest what the killer wanted? But how would it even work in practice? Jason was the only person Dani had confided in. McNair would likely be far less open to what Dani was saying, and it was even more unlikely that she’d ever buy such a madcap ruse, so how would Jason sell the idea to the DCI? Would he have to tell her that he really thought Dani was responsible?

What if it all went wrong and she never got out?

‘I mean, I guess it could work,’ Jason said, looking ponderous now.

She stared at him for a few seconds and felt a sudden chill, though she couldn’t put her finger on why.

‘Dani? Is that what you want?’

She didn’t answer him. Her mind was too busy desperately trying to grasp an answer that made sense.

Jason’s phone pinged. It was in his hand in a flash.

‘I’m really sorry, I have to go,’ he said.

‘Seriously? After everything we’ve just talked about?’

‘I know, I know—’

‘Are you going to tell McNair?’

‘About having you arrested?’

‘About the forensics findings? About any of this?’

‘I can hold off for now. If that’s what you’re asking.’ He got to his feet. ‘But I’ll come back later so we can finish this. Think about what I said.’

Dani said nothing. Her mind was still too busy. She showed Jason out but didn’t speak a word as she did so. When she’d shut and locked the door she remained standing in the hallway for a few moments.

Something was bugging her.